This is why I think if they stay at 2OA it has to be DE or S. The then DE/S and LB with 2 of the next 3 picks after 2OA.
Hamilton is a top 5 player in this draft. I don’t think you can just say Safeties can be found in later rounds and therefore he isn’t worthy of the pick, I believe he can be an immediate game changer at that position both run and pass defense. So I think the value justifies picking him there. The defense has 3 major holes IMO, DE, LB,S and those need to get filled with playmakers, we know Hutch and Thibs check that box if the staff like them, but Hamilton also checks that box.
My pick is still Hutch, I think he has the most impact now in improving the defense. Then S & LB in next 3 picks, assuming a WR is picked also (maybe a QB if right one falls)
It’s funny how everyone is talking about Tomlin and the Steelers wanting him. I honestly haven’t seen something like this since Mayo came out and it was so obvious the Lions wanted him that Marinelli admitted that they want him and everyone knows it.
This response is NOT about Willis in particular… but the QB position.
I think the draft “gurus” overlook something during the “draft season”.
How many years have we heard the phrase “best player in the draft regardless of position” when some guy is trying to sell a TE, safety, or RB (Saquon) as a high draft pick???
But… if we are determining what something is “worth”… I think it is important to follow the money.
I think some coaches and GMs in recent years have started to view the QB position differently.
There seems to be more teams taking a QB in round 1… even when they don’t “need” a QB.
Here are some unusual things that have happened during the last 5 drafts, when an unheard of 20 QBs was selected in round 1 during that span.
A team drafted a QB when they had a solid starter.
A team drafted a QB from the Air Raid offense, who perhaps had never taken a snap under center.
A team drafted a QB that only had 1 year as a starter.
A team drafted a QB that completed only 56% of his passes.
A team drafted a QB that was only 5’10" tall at #1 overall.
A team drafted a QB at #1 overall only 1 year after spending a top 10 pick on a QB.
A team drafted a QB that was asked if he would play WR before the draft by some teams.
A QB went in the top 10 picks… despite not being considered a 1st round pick until the Senior Bowl.
QBs who attended Ohio State were drafted in 1st round for 3 straight years.
A QB who suffered a dislocated hip 6 months before draft was taken in the top 5 picks.
A QB with a TD:INT ratio of 1.18 in his final college season was taken in 1st round.
A team with a 1st ballot HOF QB drafted his replacement BEFORE his 4-year contract extension even kicked in.
A team gave up 2 additional 1st round picks to move for a QB that threw 318 college passes.
A team that plays outside in a cold weather region drafted a QB that struggles to throw a ball 50 yards.
This trend is unlikely to stop… or even slow down.
Teams that don’t have a top 10 QB… have started drafting a new QB earlier.
Some GMs like the “moneyball” approach of building a team around a rookie contract QB.
The rule changes to protect QBs and emphasize passing have made the position more valuable than ever before.
As you get better, it gets harder to get a high ceiling QB. You make mistakes and guys get hurt or move on all the time. When you are on top your beans are worth more than the talent gap between players. IE it’s easier to move down collect resources that MITIGATE any QB pick, by allowing you to take an additional position player in the top couple rounds. When you go the other way, you’ve quote built your team right? Now you have to sell your future draft beans to shoot up to a top 3 pick (as we have now) to go take your QB swing and I don’t care who it is, it’s a major risk of failure.
We are quite a few PLAYERS away, but if you observe where our talent is, it IS built for a young QB to succeed. Oline, running game, elite TE, elite route running slot WR. We have that before we select one non-QB in FA and the draft this year. Me thinks WR1 will be a part of this, and with Goff’s contract, it is the perfect situation for a young QB to sit for one year. Then another offseason and guess what, we don’t have to give up our 1st, 2nd and 3rd round picks. We get to use them because we got our QB when we had resources to burn efficiently. Say we made a mistake in our build. Or our 3OA Cornerback shreds his achilles… Or your Head Coach pisses off your starting Pro Bowl CB and Safety and need to be shed… Having those picks to course correct from your “built” team may come in very handy.
I hear wait, better class next year. Ok, but I don’t think you are going to be getting Willis/Pickett/Corral talent in the 2nd round next year. You are still going to have to get up top if you want guys who are “clearly” better than those guys. If we do have the right guys in our coaching and front office, we will be a middle of the road team, selling the farm to go get a guy who is taller than Willis, or with bigger hands than Pickett. Hope those traits equal the difference between getting a ring or not and the better prospect, gets one less year than Willis, Pickett or Corral to do it.
REALLY good post, bro. All of these points are how I feel too.
I think Brad and Dan are extremely bold in their decision making, and they will fearlessly make the decision and own it.
I also believe they are professionals with direction, as well as a system of checks and balances. If they want Willis, I think they go for him.
I’ll trust them, either way.
Seems to be the consensus. I’m really curious to see how it turns out. Truthfully, I wanted Javonte Williams in much the same way, but didn’t expect us to be able to get him, for the same reasons.
If we did get him, I think we’d see him on the bench for 1-3 years, and people would be bitching and complaining about the SOL bs, and then…in 2-3 years, they get to have their “Stafford moment,” where they get to choose between admitting they don’t know everything…or blindly continue to defend their ego/identity.
As to Willis at 2, I’m very against it. Waaay to raw from the games I watched. He has a long way to go, and is to big a risk at such a high pick.
However I do see the arm and run ability that some are so enamored with.
I see a guy like Hutch, a pretty safe pick, consensus no. 1, at a need position. Attitude that MC/DC want, leader, non stop motor, and a terrific skill set. I’m not giving that up for a slight chance Willis works out.
I’d hate Willis at 2, I’d support him unlike the Stafford haters, I’d hope for the best and cheer him.
2 oa picks are picks you have to hit. Willis fails, you wasted a top 2 pick, on a guy with a high bust potential vs a guy that is far more likely to hit. At 2 I want the hit. Wasting a 2 now AND having to burn all that capital to move up anyway if he busts. Is worse than using that future capital on the right guy imo
He who finds the Holy Grail of QBs must face the 3 challenges…
Path of God: Only the penitent fan shall pass. You must burn your Joey Harrington and Drew Stanton jerseys.
Word of God: Only in the footsteps of Jack Fox, shall he proceed.
Breath of God: Only in a leap from the Lion’s head, shall he prove his worth. I hope you can jump really far if you draft Malik Willis. Somebody took down the invisible bridge.
